Gap of Dunloe Tour

The Gap Of Dunloe Tour

The Gap of Dunloe tour departs daily from the Lake Hotel at around 10am and you can expect to be finished about 4pm

For Groups we can organise these trips from our Hotel Peir.

The tour starts by bus which will collect visitors from the Lake Hotel around 10.15 AM. Passenger’s are then dropped off at Kate Kearney’s Cottage just before the mouth of the Gap. Here you can take a Pony and Trap or you can opt to walk 7 miles through the Gap and over the Head of the Gap. You will pass many smaller lakes on route as you travel through the Gap of Dunloe.

Then you descend down into the Black Valley and continue on to Lord Brandon’s Cottage which is a delightful tea room where snacks and tea and coffee are served, it is a good idea to take a moment to refresh yourself at this point as the next part of the journey is a 13 mile boat journey.

The boat trip begins at Lord Brandon’s Cottage and heads down to the Upper lake, you can see Ladies view (where Queen Victoria and her ladies in waiting took their rest) and the high Kerry mountains. There is a scattering of smaller islands on either side. Next you will head on the Long Range river and six mile bridge with the Eagles Nest on your left. Meandering down the calm flowing river you will get to the Meeting of the Waters, here you will descend down under the right arch into calm flowing waters by Dinis Cottage.

Muckross Lake

Next it is into the Muckross Lake (Middle Lake) and on under Brickeen Bridge and into the Lower Lake. Here you will pass by Glena Bay on your left and you can see an old house once frequented by the wealthy and famous. The Rhododendron has now taken over a lot of the grounds around the derelict house. Heading on by Darby’s gardens,O’Sullivan’s Cascade (unseen) and back by Innisfallen Island (It is said King Brian Boru was educated by the Monks here) into Ross Bay. Here you can see Ross Castle once an O’Donohue Stronghold. In 2007 the reintroduction of the White Tailed Sea Eagle is also a great attraction. Next it is bus back to the Lake Hotel and relax overlooking the 12th Century Castle with a pint of Guinness and reflect on that magnificent Adventure that was the “Gap of Dunloe”.